Stroke increasing attachment for walking beam



March 17, 1959 usc 2,877,652

STROKE INCREASING ATTACHMENT FOR WALKING BEAM Filed Dec. 25, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Ben E. MDscha/ek, Jr 1 N VEN TOR.

Mafch 17, 1959 B. E. MUSCHALEK STROKE INCREASING ATTACHMENT FOR WALKING BEAM Filed Dec. 3, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fig.2

$4 w m 0V M M H w M m Wlw w 4 m .w w y 1W H a L" a 7 .w v w 0 k m w United States Patent STROKE INCREASING A'ITACHlVIENT FOR WALKING BEAM Ben E. Muschalek, Jr., McCamey, Tex.

Application December 3, 1957, Serial No. 700,454

Claims. (Cl. 74-41) This invention relates in general to new and useful improvements in pumping mechanisms, and more specifically to a stroke increasing attachment for walking beam.

In the oil fields, a polish rod of a well pump is vertically reciprocated by means of a walking beam assembly. Inasmuch as the stroke of the walking beam assembly is fixed, the pumping action of the pump is limited by the speed which the walking beam may be driven. In many instances it is desirable to increase the stroke of the pump. However, in order to do this, it would require a complete reconstruction of the walking beam assembly. Thus the capacity of the pump is limited. On the other hand, if the stroke of the pump could be increased and the speed maintained the same, then the output of the pump would be greatly increased.

It is therefore the primary object of this invention to provide an attachment which may be mounted on existing walking beams for increasing the stroke thereof without modifying the structure of the walking beam.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved stroke increaser for walking beam assemblies, the stroke increaser including a bridle which is mounted intermediate the reins of the walking beam and the polish rod of the pump, the bridle including at least one extensible fluid motor which is connected to a fluid pump disposed intermediate the walking beam and a samson post assembly, the pump being connected to the fluid motor whereby as the horse head of the walking beam moves upwardly, the pump is actuated to pump fluid to the fluid motor to extend the fluid motor and thus increase the movement of the polish rod.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved stroke increaser for walking beam assemblies, the stroke increaser being of such a nature whereby it may be readily mounted on the walking beam assembly completely independent of the walking beam assembly with the exception that it includes a bridle disposed intermediate the reins of the walking beam assembly and the polish rod of the pump to which the walking beam assembly is attached.

A further object of this invention is to provide an improved attachment for walking beam assemblies for use in conjunction with an oil well pump, the attachment being of such a nature whereby as the walking beam is actuated, the pump is actuated in time with the walking beam so as to add to the effective stroke of the walking beam whereby the polish rod attached to the walking beam has the stroke thereof increased.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed reference being had to the accompanying "drawings, forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure 1 is an elevational view of a walking beam as sembly having mounted thereon the stroke increasing attachmentwhieh is the subject of this invention, the

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walking beam being illustrated in a position whereby the polish rod of the pump assembly is elevated at its maximum;

Figure 2 is an elevational view similar to Figure 1 and shows the polish rod in its lowered position;

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 3-3 of Figure 2 and shows the details of the bridle of the stroke increasing attachment and include the specific connections between the reins in the bridle and the bridle and polish rod;

Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 4-4 of Figure 3 and shows the arrangement of the extensible fluid motors of the bridle, the polish rod and the reins;

Figure 5 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view of one end of the walking beam and the horse head mounted thereon, the reins being omitted for purposes of clarity; and

Figure 6 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view showing the connection between the fluid reservoir and the fluid line, which connection includes a one-way check valve.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, it will be seen that there is illustrated in Figure l a conventional type of walking beam assembly which is referred to in general by the reference numeral 10. The walking beam assembly 10 includes a platform 12 on which there is mounted a Samson post assembly 14. The Samson post assembly 14 includes an upper horizontal pivot pin 16 on which there is mounted a generally horizontal walking beam 18.

Carried by one end of the walking beam 18 is a horse head which is referred to in general by the reference numeral 20. The horse head 20 is counterbalanced by means of counterbalance weights 22 secured to the opposite end of the walking beam 18.

Also mounted on the platform 12 adjacent the Samson post assembly 14 is a bearing assembly 24. The bearing assembly 24 supports a crank shaft 26. The crank shaft 26 includes a crank arm 28 to which there is connected a connecting rod 30. The connecting rod 30 is attached to the walking beam 18 adjacent the counterbalance weights 22. Carried by the crank shaft 26 is a pulley 32 over which there is entrained a drive belt 34. The opposite end of the drive belt (not shown) is attached to a suitable power source.

The horse head 20 is customarily directly attached to a polish rod 36 of a pump assembly 38 by means of reins which are terminally secured to the horse head as at 40. These features and the foregoing features of the walking beam assembly 10 are conventional and need not be described in more detail hereinafter. Generally each horse head 20 includes a transverse plate 42 which is secured to the walking beam 18. Carried at opposite ends of the plate 42 in parallel relation are horse head members 44. Engaged over each of the horse head members 44 is a rein 46 which is in the form of a cable. In the event the horse head of the particular walking beam assembly to be modified includes only one horse head member 44, then it will be necessary to modify the horse head so that it appears as is illustrated in Figure 5.

Carried by the walking beam assembly 10 is the stroke increasing attachment which is the subject of this invention, the stroke increasing attachment being referred to in general by the reference numeral 48. The stroke increasing attachment 48 includes a fluid pump 50 and a bridle 52.

The fluid pump 50 includes a cylinder 54 which is attached by means of a bracket assembly 56 through the samson post assembly 14 for pivotal movement. Mounted within the cylinder 54 is a piston '58 to which there' is attached a piston rod 60. The opposite end of the piston rod 60 is pivotally connected to the walking beam 18 by means of a connector 62. Thus, as the walking beam has the left end thereof moved downwardly from the position of Figure 2 to the position illustrated in Figure 1, the pump 50 will be actuated to pump fluid therefrom. On the other hand, when the walking beam 18 moves from the position illustrated in Figure l to the position illustrated in Figure 2, a vacuum will be created within the cylinder 54 and fluid will be drawn into the cylinder 54.

As is best illustrated in Figure 3, the bridle 52 includes a lower support plate 64. The plate 64 is provided with two outer bores 66 through which lower end portions of the reins 46 pass. The reins 46 are provided at their lower ends with collars 68 which are adjustable and which engage the underside of the plate 64 to limit downward movement of the bridle 52 on the reins 46. The plate 64 also includes a central bore 70 through which the polish rod 36 passes.

Secured to the support plate 64 intermediate the reins 46 and the polish rod 36 are fluid motors of the extensible type, each of the fluid motors being referred to in general by the reference numeral 72.

Each of the fluid motors 72 includes an elongated cylinder 74 in which there is mounted a piston 76. Connected to the piston 76 and extending out thereof is an elongated piston rod 78. The upper ends of the piston rods 78 are connected together by a connector 82. The connector 82 has a bore 84 therethrough through which the polish rod 36 extends. An adjustable collar 86 is mounted on the polish rod 36 above the connector 84 so as to support the polish rod.

Referring once again to Figure l in particular, it will be seen that the pump 50 is connected to the fluid motors 72 by means of a fluid line 88. Thus when fluid is pumped from the pump 50, the fluid is pumped into the lower ends of the cylinders 74 which results in the pistons 76 being forced upwardly so as to move the piston rods 78 upwardly and thus urge the polish rod 36 upwardly. Inasmuch as the pump 50 pumps at the time the polish rod 36 is being elevated by the walking beam 18, it will be seen that the stroke increasing attachment 48 supplements the normal stroke of the walking beam assembly 10.

In order that the pump 50, the fluid line 88 and the fluid motors 72 may be fllled with the correct amount of fluid at all times, there is mounted on the walking beam 18 a fluid reservoir 90. The fluid reservoir is connected to the fluid line 88 by means of a fitting which is referred to in general by the reference numeral 92.

As is best illustrated in Figure 6, the fitting 92 is in the form of a check valve 94 including a ball valve member 96. Thus hydraulic fluid stored within the reservoir 90 is free to run into the fluid line 88 and at the same time is prevented from being pumped back into the reservoir 90.

The weights of the various components of the stroke increasing attachment 72 may be compensated for by varying the counterbalance weights 22. Thus the walking beam will remain in balance.

It will be readily apparent from the foregoing that the walking beam assembly, through a slight modification may incorporate the stroke increasing attachment 72 so as to greatly increase the pumping output of the oil well.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and changes may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. In combination with a walking beam unit of the type including a Samson post assembly, a walking beam pivotally mounted on said Samson post assembly, a horse head at one end of said walking beam, reins depending from said horse head and a polish rod, a stroke increasing attachment, said stroke increasing attachment comprising a fluid pump of the reciprocating type, said fluid pump extending between and connected to said walking beam and said Samson post assembly, a bridle disposed intermediate said reins and said polish rod, said bridle being carried by said reins and including a connector attached to said polish rod, an extensible fluid motor having a piston rod connected to said connector, and a fluid line extending between said fluid pump and said fluid motor whereby as said horse head moves upwardly, said fluid pump is actuated to pump fluid to said fluid motor to extend said piston rod.

2. In combination with a walking beam unit of the type including a Samson post assembly, a walking beam pivotally mounted on said Samson post assembly, a horse head at one end of said walking beam, reins depending from said horse head and a polish rod, a stroke increasing attachment, said stroke increasing attachment comprising a fluid pump of the reciprocating type, said fluid pump extending between and connected to said walking beam and said Samson post assembly, a bridle disposed intermediate said reins and said polish rod, said bridle being carried by said reins and including a connector attached to said polish rod, an extensible fluid motor having a piston rod connected to said connector, and a fluid line extending between said fluid pump and said fluid m0- tor whereby as said horse head moves upwardly, said fluid pump is actuated to pump fluid to said fluid motor to extend said piston rod, said fluid pump being disposed remote from said horse head.

3. in combination with a walking beam unit of the type including a Samson post assembly, a walking beam pivotally mounted on said Samson post assembly, a horse head at one end of said walking beam, reins depending from said horse head and a polish rod, a stroke increasing attachment, said stroke increasing attachment comprising a fluid pump of the reciprocating type, said fluid pump extending between and connected to said walking beam and said Samson post assembly, a bridle disposed intermediate said reins and said polish rod, said bridle being carried by said reins and including a connector attached to said polish rod, an extensible fluid motor having a piston rod connected to said connector, and a fluid line extending between said fluid pump and said fluid motor whereby as said horse head moves upwardly, said fluid pump is actuated to pump fluid to said fluid motor to extend said piston rod, a fluid reservoir carried by said walking beam, said fluid reservoir being connected to said fluid line to insure a full supply of fluid at all times.

4. In combination with a walking beam unit of the type including a Samson post assembly, a walking beam pivotally mounted on said Samson post assembly, a horse head at one end of said walking beam, reins depending from said horse head and a polish rod, 2. stroke increasing attachment, said stroke increasing attachment comprising a fluid pump of the reciprocating type, said fluid pump extending between and connected to said walking beam and said Samson post assembly, a bridle disposed intermediate said reins and said polish rod, said bridle being carried by said reins and including a connector attached to said polish rod, an extensible fluid motor having a piston rod connected to said connector, and a fluid line extending between said fluid pump and said fluid motor whereby as said horse head moves upwardly, said fluid pump is actuated to pump fluid to said fluid motor to extend said piston rod, a fluid reservoir carried by said Walking beam, said fluid reservoir being connected to said fluid line to insure a full supply of fluid at all times,

a one-way check valve intermediate said fluid reservoir and said fluid line to prevent return flow into said reservoir.

5. In combination with a walking beam unit of the type including a Samson post assembly, a walking beam pivotally mounted on said Samson post assembly, a horse head at one end of said walking beam, reins depending from said horse head and a polish rod, a stroke increasing attachment, said stroke increasing attachment comprising a fluid pump of the reciprocating type, said fluid pump extending between and connected to said walking beam and said Samson post assembly, a bridle disposed intermediate said reins and said polish rod, said bridle being carried by said reins and including a connector attached to said polish rod, an extensible fluid motor having a piston rod connected to said connector, and a fluid line extending between said fluid pump and said fluid motor whereby as said horse head moves upwardly,

said fluid pump is actuated to pump fluid to said fluid motor to extend said piston rod, a fluid reservoir carried by said Walking beam, said fluid reservoir being connected to said fluid line to insure a full supply of fluid at all times, a one-way check valve intermediate said fluid reservoir and said fluid line to prevent return flow into said reservoir, said fluid pump being disposed remote from said horse head.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 719,370 Rank Jan. 27, 1903 1,561,723 Keefover Nov. 17, 1925 2,390,324 Peters Dec. 4, 1945 

